I have a 10G freshwater tank set up. I'd like to add either a pleco or a catfish, but I would like the smallest breed. I have small schools of Tetras, Platies, and I plan to get one (maybe two) dwarf guorami.
Are there any plecos or catfish that fit the bill? If so, what do they require? As of now I have a rock, several fake plants, and fake grass patches. Would I need to put real plants in? Also, can either the pleco or the catfish live w/o any other plecos or catfish in the tank? I only plan to get one.
2007-01-27 10:29:13 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
Otocinclus catfish are the absolute smallest pleco/catfish you can get. Wait until you have lots of algae in your tank, that way they have something to eat while you ween them onto prepared foods.
2007-01-27 10:36:25 · answer #1 · answered by fish guy 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Smallest Pleco
2016-11-08 09:55:28 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Corey cats are going to be your best bet. They stay small enough for a 10 gallon tank, and dont bother the other fish. You can get two in that size tank. Check out different fish stores, the coreys come in a lot of different patterns. They are active and for the most part stay at the bottom of the tank. The plecos get very large, and so do most of the catfishes. Good luck.
2007-01-27 12:58:34 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
A plecostomos would get pretty big for a 10G. A couple of small corys are always nice. Get two and they tend to do better in 2 or more. Your tank is big enough for 2 bottom feeders. No real plants are needed unless you want to go that route.
Oto cats are small but they need a good supply of algae to survive .. either growing or through supplemental feedings of algae rich wafers.
2007-01-27 10:38:15 · answer #4 · answered by morahastits 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A catfish may be able to breathe air, but where does it go to the bathroom when it eats? (These still count towards the capacity in your tank.) The best choice would be the Otocinclus cat. These stay under 2 inches and eat algae like a big pleco.
http://www.fishlore.com/profiles_otocinclus.htm
http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10cat_oticinclus.htm
2007-01-27 10:57:39 · answer #5 · answered by copperhead 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
specific. I continually have a sprint driftwood in aquariums with any of the suckermouth catfish. I additionally feed par boilled zuchini, romain lettuce algae pellets or comparable kind vegatation foodstuff on social gathering. verify you decrease in the process the exterior of the zuchini or they're going to eat out the interior and can get the exterior ring caught around their gills. benefit from the tank, planted tanks are my well-known. i've got continually had sturdy success with Otocinclus in planted tanks and the dwarf forms of bristlenose plecos have worked nicely on maximum plant types inspite of the shown fact that i do no longer notably comprehend in the adventure that your emperor bristlenose will harm the plant life or no longer. Siamese Algae Eaters are great in planted aquariums inspite of the shown fact that they are complicated to discover and comprehend for effective which you have become the superb fish.
2016-11-01 10:56:07 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The rule of one inch of fish per one gallon of water means ALL fish in the tank count toward that total. It is not because of oxygen in the water to sustain the fish, it is because of the bio-load that fish put on a given amount of water.
They all excrete waste that decays into ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. These are all toxic to fish. Therefore you have to get them out of the tank. A filter does not remove these chemicals. You must do regular weekly partial (25-30%) water changes to keep the water quality healthy for your fish. If you have more than 10 inches of fish in that tank, you will need to do water changes more often, maybe every 4-5 days to keep the fish healthy and happy.
That said, a small species of pleco called a "bushynosed" pleco would be the way to go. I spawn them and have at least one or two in almost all of my 25 tanks. They rarely get more than 5" long and are always busy cleaning up missed food and algae that happens to grow. They do not need to have a friend, in fact, some of the males are quite intolerant of other plecos in "their" area. They do like to have a small piece of driftwood, though, and really enjoy a slice of boiled zucchini to munch on. I freeze some and keep it in a baggy in the freezer.
2007-01-27 13:15:50 · answer #7 · answered by 8 In the corner 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Cat Fish are always the easiest...you don't have to count them toward your general one inch of fish per gallon of water in your tank because cat fish will just run up to the top of the tank and snag a breath of air. Both a catfish and pleo will be content alone.
If you decide to get a pleco they generally do not live on algae alone and the best way to keep them alive and happy is to take a zucchini, slice it up, blanch (boil) it for about 20 seconds and then freeze the slices. Put one in your tank, ideally on one of those suction cup men (they sell these at most aquatic stores, they are a clip shaped like a stick figure) and the Pleo's will love it. When its gone, get a new one.
As far as size, a catfish is definately smaller and it will also be a much easier to care for.
2007-01-27 10:42:48 · answer #8 · answered by Mighty B 2 · 1⤊ 4⤋
You may be overstocked already. Ottos are the only sucker fish for a 10 gallon. Only get one gourami, they fight and your tank is too small for 2.
2007-01-27 13:37:18 · answer #9 · answered by bzzflygirl 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋